Strawberries!

Sunday, we finally made it to Cottle Farms to pick strawberries. We have talked about going for a few years now, but never quite made it. But Sunday was the day.

We picked a gallon of strawberries and three of us refrained from eating any while we were picking. John couldn't resist eating a small one. I admit standing in the middle of all those plants with that wonderful fragrance it was difficult to refrain from eating them.

Sunday night John cut some of the strawberries for strawberry shortcake. They were delicious! But we still had a little over two quarts left. John asked what we were going to do with them all. Well. I've been wanting to try canning/preserving for awhile and saw this as my chance.

Tuesday, the girls and I made strawberry jam. We had a few snags along the way: too small a sauce pan being used, and a small fire under the burn when the strawberries boiled over. I did move the pot of strawberries to another burner before the flames erupted, so the jam did not burn. And no real harm was done to the stove. By the time we got home from taekwondo that night, John had already eaten half a jar. It is delicious! I think I'm going to have to make more.

However, before we make more I am going to make a few purchases. I'm going to get an actual canning pot with tongs made for jars. And I am going to need a few more jars too, because we plan to give a few jars away.